By Jack O'Dwyer
UnitedHealthcare Oxford, which StevensGouldPincus says is the plan most used by New York area PR firms, is boosting its rates by 20.8% as of Aug. 1. Last year's boost was 7.1%.
Rates for singles in the better-grade "Choice Plus" plan go from $596 monthly to $721 or $8,658 yearly.
Family rates go from $1,854 monthly to $2,236 or $26,841.
Rates for singles in the middle-grade "Freedom Standard" plan go from $558 monthly to $674 ($8,090 yearly) while family rates go from $1,729 monthly to $2,089 ($25,068). Parent/child rates go from $1,032 to $1,247 ($14,967).
The New York Post last year predicted big increases this year as healthcare companies pass to subscribers $853 million in new state taxes.
Average monthly cost for a family plan not part of a group last year rose 13% to $4,354 or $52,248 yearly, said the New York State Insurance Dept.
Average in-network family plans rose 13% last year to $2,966 or $35,592.
Said the Post last year: "The jaw-dropping prices follow years of double-digit rate increases as tens of thousands of healthy New Yorkers opt out of coverage and leave insurers with an ever-sicker, costlier client pool."
Insurance is #1 Complaint-- Gould
Rick Gould, partner in StevensGouldPincus, said last year that the "Number one complaint we hear from PR firm CEOs is that healthcare costs are increasing at an unaffordable rate. The firms cannot afford to absorb it, especially in a recession, and it is difficult to continue passing on increases to their staff … a real 'Catch 22.'"
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided that the unemployed would only have to pay 35% of their premiums under COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Recovery Act of 1985) but this expired May 31.
Several PR pros told this website they now face paying non-network rates of $1,500 and $1,800 a month for insurance that has been costing them $350 monthly under the plan of their former employers. Ex-employees could stay in COBRA for up to 18 months.
A PR pro with a small firm and two children said he has not been able to afford health insurance for several years.
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